Republicans and President Trump’s reelection campaign may limit a recount of Wisconsin’s vote to Milwaukee and Dane counties, sources said.
The two counties could start counting as soon as Thursday, said one Wisconsin source familiar with the discussions. GOP officials began recruiting volunteers in all 72 Wisconsin counties earlier this week.
“We may not be requesting a full statewide recount,” said Jason Miller, a senior adviser for the Trump campaign.
“As of right now, those are the only two counties,” the source added, referring to Milwaukee and Dane counties. Dane County includes the city of Madison.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission projects the statewide recount will cost the campaign $7.9 million, significantly more than the roughly $2 million paid by the Green Party for a presidential recount in 2016.
The cost is based on estimates from each of the counties, so a recount of only two counties would be less expensive.
“Funding is not an issue,” the campaign source said.
The Trump campaign would have to deliver payment upfront by 4:59 p.m. CST on Wednesday. A source this week said the money was “not nailed down yet.”
“We’ll know whether it’s going to go ahead by 4:59 p.m., no later than that time,” said Robert Spindell, a Republican and one of the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s six commissioners. “If the money, for example, is received at 5 o’clock and one second, then there won’t be any recount.”
After all county canvasses are submitted, the party wishing to challenge the results has one day to decide whether to go ahead with a recount, Spindell said.
The Commission will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. to discuss the recount if the Trump campaign moves forward.
